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Grace-Filled, Natural LivingFri, 31 Jul 2015 04:01:02 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Simple Ways to Celebrate a Birthdayhttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/simple-ways-celebrate-birthday.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/simple-ways-celebrate-birthday.html#commentsFri, 31 Jul 2015 04:01:02 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18174Children don’t need over the top celebrations … they just need to feel loved. Parents will appreciate these simple ways to celebrate a birthday. Guest post by Rachel of day2dayjoys.com Birthdays come once a year, per family member, but for me, I often feel all rushed and hurried like it snuck up on me. Some might call […]

Birthdays come once a year, per family member, but for me, I often feel all rushed and hurried like it snuck up on me.

Some might call this procrastination (ahem!) and others might call this the “creative last-minute” adrenaline rush.

When celebrating birthdays in our family, I typically do something special on the day and have a birthday party later on. I did this for our daughter Julia’s Frozen Birthday Party since her birthday in a few days after Christmas, we had her party later on in January.

We try to avoid the junk like food coloring, candy and limit sugar on birthday celebrations. They get enough sugar throughout the year and a birthday can still be fun without all the junk.

If you are like me and birthdays all of a sudden appear on the calendar, I have some simple ideas for you. These tips aren’t for birthday parties but for making a child’s birthday day (or even week) special.

Simple Ideas for Celebrating a Birthday

Box-O-Party Stuff

OK, remember I mentioned above about the “creative last-minute” adrenaline rush?? This Box-O-Party stuff RESCUES you! Over the years after birthdays or events or celebrations, I have been collecting… After each event, I save the unused stuff even if there are only a handful left (napkins, plates, candles, party streamers, etc.) and put it into a box.

When a birthday comes, I pull it out and can quickly use the contents. On their birthday day, you could put up a little streamers or balloons to add a little sparkle of celebration. You can even use birthday plates or napkins at the meals.

Write a birthday message

If you have a white board, chalk board or even as simple as a piece of paper, write a birthday message to them to wake up to. You’ll have smiles all around.

My mom got one of these plates at the dollar store and painted the middle with chalkboard paint, we’ve been using it for a couple of years now.

All that our children want to hear from us, is that we love them! You could even write them a special note to put in their lunch box if their birthday falls on a school day. I’ve never done this but also love the idea of writing them a letter, letting them read it and keeping it in a journal to give to them when they move out.

Birthday outfit

Now this one takes a little planning, but every kid loves something special to wear on their special day. For younger kids, it’s fun to get a birthday outfit or personalized T-shirt. For an older kid, letting them pick out a new shirt or outfit to wear that shows their uniqueness or style.

And It doesn’t necessarily have to be an outfit … it could be a headband or necklace. The options are endless.

I got this birthday smocked dress from a friend who was selling some of her daughter’s clothes for around $6-7 and the headband came from the baby shower.

Let it be about them

Turn of the phone and all the devices (including the TV) and spend time with them. If you have more than one child, this is a great way to learn (or continue to learn) about selflessness and appreciating and lifting another person up. You could even have all the sibling make a card or write a sentence or two affirming them.

Make the birthday boy or girl their favorite meal or take them to their favorite restaurant. Let the day be about them and appreciating their role in your family. My daughter requested spaghetti and meatballs so that’s what we had for her birthday dinner.

Breakfast surprise

Make your child their favorite breakfast, or if time allows, take them to breakfast. If they don’t have a favorite breakfast there are other ideas like muffins, pancakes or even a waffle birthday cake.

And if you’re like me (remember… last minute) just throw something together and put a candle in it and sing “Happy Birthday.” They will feel special no matter what!

Photo shoot

If your budget allows or you (or a friend) have skills with photography, do a photo shoot. It doesn’t even have to be anything elaborate. It could be in your backyard with your iPhone. This is especially fun for first birthdays or even on into the teen years.

Time for some keepsake art

There are all kinds of birthday crafts you can do, but I really like making art with canvases.

And they are pretty cheap too. I like square ones, but the rectangular ones are usually cheaper. Depending on the child’s age, you can go simple— abstract painting with a bunch of different colors or more difficult— print out something and let them recreate it. And there’s always just making up their own creation.

London, our newly turned 1year old got her first taste of art when she painted a first birthday canvas. Whether your child is 1 or 21, canvas art is a memorable keepsake. (By the way, of they’re 21, or even teens, it would be a fun date to go to one of those painting on canvas places.)

Speaking of summer…after five years of parenting, I now understand what summer really means.

We had a great first year experience in our University Model school (similar to Erin’s) but, as the spring semester wound down, we were all ready for a break.

On May 14th, it finally came, and we haven’t looked back since! The kids and I have taken full advantage of our freedom, loading up on more games, creative play, visits with friends, fun outings, and plenty of pool time!

As a result, though, the kitchen has been a little quieter – quick breakfasts, smoothie lunches, and simple dinners like this Crock Pot Baked Potato Bar have become our mainstay.

Crock Pot Baked Potato Bar: a Simple Summer Dinner

A baked potato bar is a simple, healthy, and satisfying dinner that can be ready within minutes of walking in the door. Here’s how.

First, did you know you can “bake” potatoes in the slow cooker? You totally can! They take virtually zero prep, cook in just a few hours, and turn out perfectly! (Sweet potatoes also work, by the way, and are fabulous with my Maple Cinnamon Butter!)

Second, the toppings can all be prepped in advance and pulled out just before serving. (If you pre-cook your bacon, reheat it in the oven or toaster oven at 350 degrees for a few minutes until the crisp returns)

Third, this recipe pairs well with a quick salad, kale slaw, or any other make-ahead vegetable recipe your family likes.

As a bonus, serving baked potatoes “bar style” allows each person to stuff their potato with just what they like. (My kids have always been good eaters but, the older and pickier they get, the more I appreciate this one!)

The potatoes can be served straight from the slow cooker, or you can place them on plates so they’re ready to stuff. By the way, do you know the “cross cut” trick for opening a baked potato so it holds its form just like those perfect stuffed baked potatoes you get at the restaurant?

Crock Pot Sweet Potato Bar Recipe

Ingredients

Large baked potatoes (I cooked 5 potatoes in a 6-quart Crock Pot – you could easily add a few more, but may need to extend the cooking time)

Method

Rinse and scrub potatoes, then prick each potato a few times with a fork.

Place potatoes directly into the Crock Pot and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or until done. If not serving right away, quickly brush water over each potato using a pastry brush to prevent the skins from cracking, then cover and turn to the “keep warm” setting until ready to serve.

To serve, make a cross-shaped cut in the top of each potato and press inward on opposite ends to create an opening (use a kitchen towel to protect your hands if potatoes are too hot!).

Sprinkle generously with sea salt, then add toppings of choice.

Note: You can add 2-4 Tbsp water to the Crock Pot before cooking if desired – this will keep the skins more moist and soft, but I find that the firmer, drier skins hold up better for stuffed baked potatoes.

More Fast and Easy Summer Dinner Ideas

Want even more great ideas for healthy dinners that are easy to throw together when you’re short on time? Here ya’ go!

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/crock-pot-baked-potato-bar.html/feed1Do You Still Need a Landline?http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/still-need-landline.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/still-need-landline.html#commentsTue, 28 Jul 2015 04:01:58 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18299Do you still need a landline phone? Check out these pros and cons that come with cancelling your landline phone service. By Sarah Mueller, Contributing Writer When we moved into our dream home, we decided we didn’t need a landline phone. We’d just use our cell phones. Now, 2 years later, this decision has saved us at […]

When we moved into our dream home, we decided we didn’t need a landline phone. We’d just use our cell phones. Now, 2 years later, this decision has saved us at least $640.

3 reasons to skip the landline and use just cell phones

You’ll save money. Our old landline phone bill was at least $30 a month. We’re saving at least $360 each year by not having a landline. We’ve saved even more by negotiating other utility bills.

Fewer sales calls. For some reason, we get very few unsolicited sales calls on our cell phones. It keeps the dinner hour a little more peaceful.

It’s easier to stay in touch with people. With my phone with me, I almost never miss a call. Of course, always being plugged in is not always a good thing.

These are great reasons not to have a landline. But still, we hesitated.

Having a “regular” phone was just something everyone did! It seemed strange to not have one. There were other downsides, too.

Disadvantages to not having a regular phone line or landline:

Your Internet bill might go up. If you get your Internet service from the phone company, they might penalize you for cancelling your landline. The phone company doesn’t provide DSL in our area, so it wasn’t an issue for us.

Your cell phone has to be charged to be usable. In a power outage, a corded landline will still work. Our generator will charge our cell phones if necessary. You could also use your car to charge your phone in a pinch.

Challenges using 911. Since cell phones aren’t fixed to an address, emergency services might have difficulty identifying the location of a 911 call (although most phones transmit their location automatically to 911 and the FCC says that 70% of all 911 calls are from cell phones). This means if you call 911 from a cell phone, you should tell the 911 operator your location.

You need cell reception. If you live in an area where the reception is bad, you surely won’t want to give up your landline.

Once we identified the downsides and solutions, we were comfortable not having a traditional landline. And it’s not just the landline that you can ditch.

Here are some other services you might be able to cancel:

Cable / satellite service. We use Amazon Instant Watch (one of Prime’s awesome free features) along with Netflix streaming and some library DVDs. We’re never at a loss for something to watch. Monthly savings: $80+ a month

Credit monitoring service. This service often costs $10-20 a month, but you can easily keep an eye on your credit yourself. Most credit card companies will alert you immediately to suspicious activity on your card. The FTC has information on how to get a free copy of your credit report. Unless you have special circumstances, you probably don’t need a credit monitoring service.

Service plans and special warranties on water pipes, electricity, cable modem, etc. The electric company sends me a letter every couple months offering a service plan on our home’s wiring. Since our house is newer, I don’t anticipate the wiring going bad any time soon. I’ll just keep that $10 a month, thank you!

It’s easy to get into the habit of paying the same bills each month (or not even realize they’re being paid automatically). But if you take a look at each bill, you might find that some of them are no longer necessary for your family.

By eliminating bills like landline service, you can easilyfree up money in your monthly budget. And that’s a beautiful thing!

How about you? Do you still need a landline phone?

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/still-need-landline.html/feed115 Habits That Keep Real Moms Happy {Giveaway!}http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-habits-that-keep-real-moms-happy.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-habits-that-keep-real-moms-happy.html#commentsMon, 27 Jul 2015 04:01:34 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=17871It’s time for real moms to get happy. Here are five habits that will help! Guest Post by Kathy Helgemo and Melinda Means of Mothering From Scratch Once upon a time, we had cheerful, compliant children. Our homes were clean, organized and perpetually peaceful. We were moms who set impossible goals and always achieved them. The above scenario […]

That place where kids are opinionated and strong-­willed. Where our homes are often ruled by chaos instead of Martha Stewart. And where our time and abilities don’t always seem to match up with our goals and expectations.

For a long time, we kept trying to achieve the fairy tale. The more we tried, the more exhausted, inadequate and unhappy we became.

Thankfully, we discovered the secret. Happiness began to materialize for us when we accepted we were real moms with real children. We quit chasing the fantasy and accepted our children as God made them. We began to accept how God made us.

It’s time to get real and get happy, Mom. Here are five habits that will help:

1. See Your Real Self.

Who we are is not defined by what we do or whose mother we are. Our real identity is firmly based on how uniquely God created each of us. Embracing our idiosyncrasies and working within our strengths is the only way we’ll find true happiness as a mom.

Will I ever have an elaborate filing system for every piece of artwork and award my four kids have? No. Can I make sure they are thrown into the same large plastic bin? Maybe.

One day, I will sort through all of those beautiful masterpieces and choose and file my favorites. But it won’t be today ­­and that’s okay.

Image by Pixabay.com

2. Have Real Routines. Simplify the complicated.

Simple routines reduce stress by allowing us to go on autopilot. Long, elaborate, complicated routines only pile it on. We just can’t stick to them!

I have a grudge against sticker charts. I used to make detailed systems for rewarding good behavior, completing chores and/or making good grades. I have ADD. Consistency is not always my strong suit. One by one, half­-completed sticker charts found their way to my trash can, along with a little bit of my “I’m a good mom” confidence.

Finally, I began to dowhat worked for me and my kids. I give more detailed tips in this post, but flexibility, as well as capitalizing on what motivated my kids ­­ instead of trying to stick to a rigid schedule ­­ was absolutely liberating for me.

3. Set Real Goals.

I’m going to leave my house everyday by 7:15 a.m. If all the planets align, the drive from my house to school is exactly 14 minutes and 30 seconds. School starts at 7:35 a.m. We’ll be on time every day.

An example of a realistic goal:

I’m going to leave by 7 a.m. It takes 14 to ­20 minutes to get to school. Best case scenario? Kids are there 20 minutes early. The worst? They’re early, but have less time to relax before their day begins. The super worst? We screech into the parking lot because we had to go back and retrieve that stupid permission slip!

Image by Pixabay.com

4. Make Real Friends.

Nothing sucks the joy out of mothering more than negative, competitive and/or self-­centered “friends” in your life.

But how do you attract “real friends? Ask God for them. Be real yourself. Genuine people tend to attract genuine people. You don’t need a tribe. One real friend is worth far more than a group of pretenders.

5. Give Yourself a Real Break.

Parenting is a 24/7 occupation.Without a break, though, we become exhausted, resentful and irritable. But how do we get one on a regular basis?

As the mother of young ones, I was incredibly overcommitted. At a point of complete burnout, I made a list of the things and people that were most important to me.

When I was asked to take on a new activity, I went back to that list and asked myself, “Will this help or hurt my priorities?” It made it much easier to say no! I also had more margin in my life to recharge ­­ and enjoyed my family more, too.

Image by Pixabay.com

A “break” doesn’t have to be hours of time. It just has to be consistent. Lunch with a friend. A walk in the evening. Even just a 15­ minute solitary retreat to our bedrooms! Combined with starting the day with God, this makes such a difference in our perspective and state of mind.

Sure, the fairy tale would be nice. But we’re both much happier being real.

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for your support.

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-habits-that-keep-real-moms-happy.html/feed55 Reasons I Altered My Expectations for My Kidshttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-reasons-i-altered-my-expectations-for-my-kids.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-reasons-i-altered-my-expectations-for-my-kids.html#respondFri, 24 Jul 2015 04:01:08 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18460Each child is different, but if I have positive expectations for my kids, they will more than likely find a way to make it happen. By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!) As parents, we always want the best for our kids, but as a parent, I don’t always know how to make that happen. […]

Each child is different, but if I have positive expectations for my kids, they will more than likely find a way to make it happen.

By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!)

As parents, we always want the best for our kids, but as a parent, I don’t always know how to make that happen. For me, this includes the expectations that I set for my kids.

Children need clear expectations and guiding principals in many areas such as discipline, respect, chores, and other parts of life.

On one hand, expectations can be a dangerous thing when misplaced, overextended, or inflated.

On the other hand, healthy expectations can challenge us and drive us to try new things and accept new adventures.

As a parent, I often find myself struggling to focus on the second of the two and not place faulty or extreme expectations on my children.

Yes, I have high expectations for them in certain areas, and while they are very capable in some areas and growing more independent by the day, at times I expect too much of their little bodies and minds.

While being in Costa Rica this summer, I have seen them blossom and grow. They have tried new things, sometimes willingly and sometimes with a little encouragement.

I have also seen them exhausted and overwhelmed with new surroundings, food, language, and culture.

Being introduced to a new culture when you can’t communicate is particularly difficult (especially for my social butterflies), and I have forgotten what it was like when I first came to Costa Rica.

I was reminded when my oldest had a very hard time with kids camp at first, but after a little while, she did fine.

My middle child did great at first, but hit a wall about halfway through. She had enough Spanish and was very frustrated with not being able to express herself.

After seeing their reactions, I remembered my own struggles with this and realized my expectations for them may be unrealistic.

While the lessons I have learned are specific to my children and our situation, I believe there are some general takeaways that can be applied to any circumstance. Here are 5 things that I have learned about my expectations for my kids:

1) I need to know their limits.

As our children grow and undertake new adventures, we should support and strengthen them. They will need our reassurance to bolster their confidence at times.

However, at some point, they will probably reach their limit. A point at which they may need to back down, regroup, and try again later.

If they are tired, we need to let them rest. They often may not have the stamina we do, so we cannot expect them to keep up with our pace.

To push them beyond what they can truly handle can do more damage than good. It may actually push them the opposite direction.

I am not referring to just letting them back down from everything difficult situation that comes their way, but as parents, we can often tell when they have reached the extent of their strength.

Sometimes we need to lend them some of our strength, and other times we need to allow them to retreat to try again another day. There is no shame or guilt in that.

2) They may not always be excited to try new things.

Trying new things is not always fun or exciting, especially when it comes to food or speaking a new language or anything they are not naturally good at doing.

We, as parents, need to consider their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses when we ask them to try new things.

They may not always like new foods. They may not always desire to make new friends. They may not always want to try a new activity.

Insecurity sets in, and fear creeps into their minds.

But we can try to encourage our kids to try new things one step at time.

If it’s a food, at least try one bite. If they don’t like it, that’s OK. We don’t all like the same things. They can decline politely and should be taught not say “yuck” or make strange faces (which I have to remind myself not to do as well).

If it’s a new game, play one round. They may like it, or they may not. They may need a little practice in order to improve.

If it’s making new friends, at least say hello and be polite. They won’t be best friends with everyone, but it’s important that they learn appropriate social interaction skills.

3) They may not like the same things that I do.

Our kids are not always going to like the same things that we do.

I love the Spanish language as well as Latino culture and food (most of it), but my kids may not.

They have been brave to try new things this trip, but they don’t like many of my favorite dishes.

To try and push them to like the same things that I do could dampen their own personal interests and hinder them from developing individually and independently.

Kids may not like the same music or play the same sports, so we need to let it go and stop trying to live vicariously through our children.

They need to become the person that God created them to be.

4) I should expect them to make mistakes.

Though I have met some parents who think their kids are perfect, none of our kids are.

They make mistakes, and they mess up.

They are going turn their nose up at something they don’t like.

They may act out if they are tired or over stimulated or out of their comfort zone.

Yes, we should have clear expectations for their behaviors, but they are not always going to meet those.

Yes, we have standards that we live by, but they will not always be able to live up to them.

We need to be prepared with how to handle those situations when they arise.

I often find it easier to think ahead about how will I deal with a certain circumstance it if does some up. Now, I don’t always do this and end up thinking on my feet a lot of times, but that’s often when I find myself expecting too much of them.

5) They can and will step up to a challenge.

Throughout the summer, my kids have surprised me time and time again.

When I thought they would have a hard time, they jumped right in and enjoyed themselves.

When I expected timidity, they showed courage and heart.

At times they may be shy or timid, and it may take them a few minutes to warm up. But I have found that if I gently encourage them instead of getting frustrated, it frees them up to step forward and try something new.

They have shown me that they are capable of great things when allowed to pursue things in their own manner and time.

Children are amazing blessings. Each one is different and will handle things in their own style, but if we expect positive outcomes from them, they will more than likely find a way to make it happen.

Our kids are not always up for the challenges that we present to them, and we cannot force them to take those challenges.

We can encourage them to try new things, but we also need to be there for support if they are not ready.

I’m not talking about babying them or never letting them fall and scrape their knees. They should to be challenged and need to fall sometimes in order to find their strength to get back up again.

But they also need to know that I am there to support them.

I can lead them, point them to the One who removes fear, but ultimately, they have to decide how they will handle it.

I have learned to let some of my expectations go and just watch my children bloom and blossom where they are, and it has been a truly unbelievable experience. At times, it has been a difficult one, but fascinating nonetheless.

I also pray that the Lord will use these experiences to broaden their worldview and give them a heart for the nations.

Have you ever altered your expectations for your kids based on an experience or situation?

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-reasons-i-altered-my-expectations-for-my-kids.html/feed05 Tips to Making Lifestyle Choices without Creating Divisionhttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-tips-making-lifestyle-choices-without-creating-division.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-tips-making-lifestyle-choices-without-creating-division.html#commentsThu, 23 Jul 2015 04:01:14 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18194Because women generally take what we do and the lifestyle choices we make so seriously, simple choices can cause division between women. Here are 5 tips on making lifestyle choices without creating division. Guest post by Angie Tolpin Women are bombarded with an incredible amount of choices to make with regard to parenting, education, eating, health, […]

Because women generally take what we do and the lifestyle choices we make so seriously, simple choices can cause division between women. Here are 5 tips on making lifestyle choices without creating division.

Women are bombarded with an incredible amount of choices to make with regard to parenting, education, eating, health, and so on. Because women generally take what we do and the lifestyle choices we make so seriously, simply making the choice to cloth diaper, for example, can cause division between women, regardless of one’s heart on the matter.

When I was a young mom I had no idea how the decisions that we made as parents, as individuals, would greatly influence or limit the depth of some of our relationships. Even if we never meant them to.

I have sensed a growing division among women over the course of the last decade and a half. It seems to be that the more choices we have in life the more opportunity there is for division. Whether you have seen mommy wars lighting up your social media newsfeed or you sense the subtle non-verbal judgmentalism from women in your church, we have all experienced this division I speak of.

Maybe you have even contributed to the division or experienced verbal attacks by simply being a spokeswoman for a certain lifestyle choice.

Whatever the case, this division among women is not glorifying to God. In fact, it dims our light in this world and disables us from effectively functioning as the body of Christ.

Just as we desire our children to not only get along, but also to love each other, be there for one another, and be a family, so does God desire that of His daughters!

So how do we as Christians, as sisters in the body of Christ, approach making decisions on lifestyle issues without creating division?

5 Tips to Making Lifestyle Choices without Creating Division

1. Be aware and guard your heart against falling to the temptation of making an idol out of a lifestyle choice.

If you think more highly of yourself than you ought because of a lifestyle choice you have made, such as homeschooling, you have most likely allowed that good work to become an idol.

That doesn’t mean you quit doing what your decision was. It could be a good and healthy decision. And most importantly, it could be what God has called you to. Just be aware of the sin that you have committed in making it an idol, becoming prideful. Then deal with it. Confess and repent of your sins before the Lord so that it might not have a hold on you or become something that divides you and others.

2. Strive to keep a biblical perspective when it comes to choices.

Be careful not to make lifestyle choices eternal issues when they are simply liberties.

3. Obey what God calls you to, but don’t push your agenda on others.

You are going to need to make your decision, but you do not need to make your sister’s decision for her.

Pray for her. If she asks, share what you have learned, but do it in a way that doesn’t push your agenda.

Give her the information and encourage her to pray about it and make a decision in alignment with her husband. And then affirm her that you will love her regardless of what they choose to do. Recognize and respect that they are on their own journey, as a married couple, as parents, and she is as a sister.

Don’t take offense if they make a different decision than you have.

4. Don’t Be a Pharisee.

Recognize that one’s identity has nothing to do with what they DO in this life. And encourage your sister in that! If you don’t believe that, keep preaching it to yourself until you do. Be careful not to judge or stereotype others based upon what you see on the outside. You don’t know their personal circumstances.

God’s gift of grace covers a multitude of sins and mistakes: both past, present, and future. And that free gift of grace covers you and your sister as well. We all make mistakes, but fortunately they are NOT part of who we are. Don’t withhold grace from her. God doesn’t. Plus, it isn’t yours to withhold.

It is healthy for us to be able to share about all of our lives, but a healthy relationship always finds common ground in Jesus Christ. Go deeper in your relationships. Share what you are learning. Pray together and for one another regularly. Be generous with your love and support. It’s the gospel that changes us, and the gospel that enables us.

Grace, grace, and more grace. And a good healthy dose of reality and humility is what this all comes down to sisters. We need to be ever aware of our humanity and thankful for Christ’s grace. It is only then that we can fully love our sister for WHO SHE IS IN CHRISTand not take offense because of noneternal issues.

Imagine the possibilities of what the church could accomplish if we were to truly love and accept one another the way Christ loved us.

How have you successfully made lifestyle choices without causing division in your relationships?

Angie has been married to her husband Isaac for 16 years and is the busy mom of 6, with one on the way. Passionate about living out theology in the every day, Angie also loves a good ladies night out with kindred sisters who know how to authentically share and laugh. She is the author of Redeeming Childbirth, and writes on Leaving a Legacy through marriage, motherhood, and mentoring at her blog. Check out her new online Bible study called Redeeming the Division: The Quiet Fight Between Women.

Disclosure: I have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for your support.

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/5-tips-making-lifestyle-choices-without-creating-division.html/feed5A Frugal, Non-toxic, One Ingredient Skincare Routinehttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/a-frugal-non-toxic-one-ingredient-skincare-routine.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/a-frugal-non-toxic-one-ingredient-skincare-routine.html#commentsTue, 21 Jul 2015 04:01:55 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18263Try this frugal, non-toxic, one ingredient skincare routine for summer skin that glows! By Sarah Nichols, Contributing Writer I used to be one of those people who spent a lot of money on different beauty products. I had face washes, toners, makeup removers, moisturizers, eye creams, spot treatments, and more. As I slowly transitioned to a more […]

I used to be one of those people who spent a lot of money on different beauty products. I had face washes, toners, makeup removers, moisturizers, eye creams, spot treatments, and more. As I slowly transitioned to a more natural lifestyle, my skin care routine was one of the last things to change.

When I got married and started having kids, I could no longer justify the expense of all those products. Truthfully, I couldn’t justify the expense of ANY of those products. I also was concerned about many of the ingredients found in conventional skin care products and decided to find something non-toxic that wouldn’t break the bank.

I am a researcher at heart, so imagine my surprise when I came across one ingredient that appeared to be effective as not only a make-up remover, but also as a face wash and moisturizer. I was pretty skeptical, but after using this ingredient for quite some time, I can honestly say I would never go back to those other products even if I could!

My skin is so much healthier now, and for the first time in my adult life is not riddled with acne or dry skin. Furthermore, a three-month supply of this ingredient usually costs me less than $12.

What ingredient is that, you may ask?

My friends, meet Sweet Almond Oil!

Sweet Almond Oil is an excellent ingredient for your all-natural skin-care routine for many reasons:

It is not a super greasy oil and soaks into the skin quickly without leaving a lot of residue and without clogging pores.

It has an SPF value of almost 5. (source) Read about how our family approaches natural sun protection here.

It slows down the photoaging process and can prevent UV damage from the sun. (source)

It is great for both dry and oily skin types. It moisturizes dry skin and the composition of sweet almond oil actually dissolves the sebum (sticky oil that clogs pores) on oily skin. (source)

Sweet almond oil is a natural emollient that softens the skin. (source) I love to put it on my feet when they get dried and calloused.

It is one of the cheapest carrier oils.

A little bit goes a long way.

I love using this oil because it is frugal, non-toxic, and simplifies my morning and evening skincare routine. It also is multi-functional and acts as a soothing face wash, an easy makeup remover, and an effective moisturizer.

How to Use Sweet Almond Oil

As a face wash:

To wash your face with sweet almond oil, simply get a washcloth and run it under some warm water. Gently wet your face with the washcloth.

Next, add about 5 to 6 drops of almond oil into the palm of your hand and rub your hands together. Massage the oil into your skin for about a minute, being gentle around the sensitive eye area.

Re-wet the washcloth with very warm water and drape over your face. (This is optional, but it feels like heaven!) Slowly massage away the oil with the washcloth and enjoy the feeling of clean, moisturized skin.

As a makeup remover:

If you use the oil as a face wash, it will remove the makeup that is on the skin.

However, if you ever need to spot touch your makeup (like removing smeared mascara from under your eyes), simply put a drop or two of almond oil on your finger tips and gently apply to the area that you are wanting to remove the makeup. Then with a cotton swab or small cotton pad, gently wipe the oil away.

I love to use it around my eyes because it has the added benefit of moisturizing fine lines and wrinkles.

As a moisturizer:

For beautifully moisturized skin, apply 5 or 6 drops of almond oil into the palm of your hand. Rub your hands together and then gently massage into the skin all over your face and neck. The oil should soak into your skin pretty quickly, but if there is any excess, you can gently wipe it away with a washcloth.

A Couple of Cautions

If you have been looking for a simple, cost-effective, natural way to pamper your skin this summer, I hope you give almond oil a try! It has been a game-changer in my household. I even use it as a body lotion and in our homemade sunscreen recipe. If you are considering giving it a try, there are a couple of things to consider:

If you are allergic to almonds, you will probably want to try a different oil like avocado oil for similar results.

In my research, I did come across one study that found pregnant women who regularly applied almond oil to their abdomens to prevent stretch marks were twice as likely to go into labor before 37 weeks. (source) I am currently 35 weeks pregnant and while I daily apply it to my face and feet, I am waiting until after I give birth to resume my regular use of it for lotion.

When purchasing almond oil to use for skin care, be sure that you are purchasing sweet almond oil. This is the fatty oil that is extracted from the almond. There is also bitter almond oil which is actually the essential oil that is extracted from the almond and is used for flavoring food and fragrance. They both come from the almond, but are very different types of oil.

What do you use for frugal, non-toxic, one-ingredient skincare products? Are your budget or the ingredients important factors in your decision?

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/a-frugal-non-toxic-one-ingredient-skincare-routine.html/feed83 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Posting on Social Mediahttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/posting-on-social-media.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/posting-on-social-media.html#commentsFri, 17 Jul 2015 04:01:23 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18404When it comes to posting on social media, we have a choice to make. I encourage you to ask yourself these 3 questions before posting on social media. By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!) Social media – be it Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, blogs, or other numerous platforms – is a powerful medium in our culture. […]

When it comes to posting on social media, we have a choice to make. I encourage you to ask yourself these 3 questions before posting on social media.

By Will Odom, Contributing Writer (and Erin’s hubby!)

Social media – be it Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, blogs, or other numerous platforms – is a powerful medium in our culture.

It truly has changed the face of interactions between people, whether they be friends, family, or complete strangers.

We obviously love social media around our house. Our online community is awesome when it functions as it should.

As with many components in our lives, it has the power to do great good or the ability to do great evil. And with great power, comes great responsibility. (Yes, that is a Spiderman reference.)

When it comes to posting on social media, we have a choice to make. Will I choose to improve the world with my words? Will I speak life and encouragement? Or, will I add to the conflict to make things worse? Will I speak death and discouragement?

When it comes to social media, our society has a ginormous problem, and I’m talking Mt. Everest size.

I really think there are 3 main things we need to ask ourselves (myself included) before we post on social media.

Of course there are probably others, but I believe that these 3 would solve many of the cultural issues we have with social media.

1. Did I actually read the entire article before commenting or sharing?

This is fairly simplistic and should not need to be mentioned. It’s one of those common sense “duh” moments.

Yes, you obviously should read something before giving an educated opinion on the matter. (Please note the word educated…not emotional…but more on that later.)

You would not believe the number of people who just read the title of an article, make a judgement or assumption, and post their dissertation on how ridiculous the article is or why they disagree with it.

Sometimes they may read the first paragraph before beginning their rant, but it becomes fairly obvious when someone did not read an article.

At times, the article is read in its entirety, but basic reading comprehension skills are thrown out the window.

Now, I’m not saying that we cannot read something and disagree with the post. Of course, we will not agree with everything that we read, so we have three options:

Ignore the article and move on to something else.

Disagree with rude language and mean-spirited dialog.

Gather our thoughts and type a civilized response.

Is it really asking too much to read something before commenting? And when you do decide to comment, can it not be done amiably with well-informed, rational thought processes?

2. What is my emotional state before, during, and after reading the article?

Under the assumption that the article was read in its entirety (see #1), I need to stop and ask myself about my emotions before I post.

Am I having a bad day and just looking for anything on which to take out my anger?

Did the article invoke an emotional response?

Am I having a bad day and everything is rubbing me the wrong way?

If I do feel compelled to write an emotional response to an email or a post, it is typically a good idea to wait a few minutes, a few hours, or a few days before actually responding.

There are many times where I will type out my thoughts but wait to hit send or post. When I come back to them later, I often realize how irrational and emotional my words were.

Then, I can reform them with more clarity and thought to convey the message I want to deliver without all the negative emotion.

In doing so, I have often saved myself from saying things that I would later regret or causing unnecessary pain to someone else.

3. Am I considering the person on the other side of the screen?

As many have said, social media has given us a false sense of courage where anonymity allows us to say whatever we want with little or no consequences.

You do realize there are there are real people on the other side of the computer screen, right?

Some of them you may know personally, but others are merely online personas. Regardless, they are still people and should be treated with respect.

I often wonder if people actually speak this way to others in their face-to-face interactions, and if they do, I can’t imagine that they are very pleasant to be around.

We would all do well to stop and ask ourselves if someone were typing this to me and saying it to or about me personally, how would I take the message?

Have I put myself in that person’s shoes or thought about what they may be dealing with?

You may have a valid message to deliver, but if it gets lost in the delivery, it will not be received well or at all. Tone and many other nuisances of spoken language are often lost in written, social media communication.

The Golden Rule of “do unto others and you would have them do unto you” definitely applies to social media.

Social media has changed our world, and there is no going back. We can take the positive affects and leave the negative consequences behind, but the choices is ours to make.

What will you choose to do with the power that social media has provided you? I hope you will choose to speak life!

What other things do you consider before posting on social media?

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/posting-on-social-media.html/feed810+ Things We’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriagehttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/marriage-lessons.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/marriage-lessons.html#commentsThu, 16 Jul 2015 04:01:43 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18481Here are ten things we’ve learned in 10 years of marriage. We hope you will be encouraged by this post! By Erin and Will Odom Today, in a tiny village in The-Middle-of-Nowhere, Costa Rica, we celebrate our 10th anniversary. These 10 years have not come without a fight. We’ve had to fight hard for our marriage. In fact, […]

In the past 10 years, we’ve been through marriage counseling (with more than one counselor), gone to marriage conferences and retreats, participated in many marriage Bible studies, read a ton of marriage books, had mentors speak truth into our lives, and we continue to meet with our pastor to discuss ways we can improve our marriage.

We will be the first to admit our failures in marriage. We don’t write about marriage often because it’s an area where we most definitely feel humbled.

We know some of your reading this are in difficult positions. You may be in the middle of a divorce. You and your spouse may be at each other’s throats. We do not write to ignore your plight or minimize your pain.

If you are struggling right now, know you are not alone. The good news is that marriage can be a picture of mercy, forgiveness, and grace, and, ultimately, Christ and the Church–if we let it.

10+ Things We’ve Learned in 10 Years of Marriage

1. You will disagree and will sometimes have to agree to disagree.

This actually happened in the middle of writing this post–no joke! We had a disagreement over disciplining our daughter for something, and, in the end, we had to agree to disagree. We will more than likely come back around to the discussion and determine how to handle it.

We are both firstborns and can be strong-willed. That means that our natural tendency is to want the last word. Sometimes it’s best to let those last words be: Let’s just agree to disagree and move on.

And some arguments are just not worth having. It’s not uncommon for us to be in the middle of a disagreement and one or the both of us say: “This isn’t even worth arguing over.”

2. Differences, though difficult, balance your marriage and play into each other’s strengths and weaknesses.

Although we have very similar interests, we are very different in personality. To give you an idea, Will is an ESTJ on the Myers-Briggs personality scale, and Erin is an ENFP.

In fact, this particular personality test puts us as one of the worst matches!

However, we’ve learned that differences can allow us to play into each others’ strengths and weaknesses and become stronger together.

It is pretty awesome to watch how Will picks up the slack in the areas where Erin is weak and vice versa.

Also, what may look like a flaw in your spouse in the beginning might actually turn into something you can learn from them.

For example, Will is the spender and Erin is the saver in our relationship. When we first got married, we disagreed about this a lot (and we still do sometimes), but Will has taught Erin to give more, and Erin has taught him that taking the time to look for sales, etc. is totally worth it.

This was our first pregnancy over 7 years ago. I looked like a baby myself!

3. Communication, listening and not just speaking, is the key to making marriage work.

This is definitely something we are still working on. Communication is probably the biggest struggle we have in our marriage right now. But it’s something worth working through. We are learning that it’s better to over-communicate than to under-communicate.

4. Text message is not a place to have any serious discussion.

We cannot tell you the number of times intense fellowship erupted because we refused to wait to talk about something in person.

We are slowly learning that conversations of any depth–especially when bringing up some kind of confrontation–are best had in person.

This can go for any relationship. Erin has had some friendships nearly severed because of misunderstandings over text messages.

mission trip to Zimbabwe, Africa in summer 2006

5. You can’t expect to go to bed at different times and get up at different times and still have a sex life.

We are both night owls, but there have been many seasons where Will has gone to bed early since he has to be at work in the mornings, and Erin has stayed up late working since she runs a business from home.

We have learned that going to bed and getting up at different times is horrible for your sex life.

If you want to have this intimacy together, you have to be in the bed (and awake!) at the same time.

6. Learning each other’s love languages can make a world of difference.

Early in our marriage, we took a class based on the book The Five Love Languages. We laughed when we discovered that our love languages are completely opposite of each other!

Will’s love languages are gifts and acts of service; Erin’s are words and physical touch.

We’ve had to work hard to show each other love in each other’s love languages.

The day after Baby Girl #2 was born in October 2010.

7. Parenting can make you fall in deeper love.

Will is a wonderful daddy. The funny thing is that neither of us had seen each other interact with kids a whole lot before we got married, so I really had no idea what kind of dad he would be. It turns out I couldn’t have asked for a better dad for my girls.

He is super hands on, and while we sometimes disagree on how to discipline our girls, the vast majority of the time we are 100% on board with the choices we make concerning our kids.

Watching your spouse parent can be super attractive and make you love them in an even deeper way than before.

You and your spouse have a common Enemy; His name is Satan. Spiritual warfare in marriage is for real. Satan wants to steal your joy and destroy your marriage.

Even in the midst of challenges or full-out fights, it’s important to remember that your spouse is not your enemy. You need to remind him (and yourself) that you are on the same side and want unity for your marriage.

Argentina trip for my brother’s wedding in 2007

9. Your spouse is God’s perfect provision for you, even though sometimes it doesn’t feel like it.

If Will and I believe what we say we believe–and that is that God is Sovereign–then we can know that we are God’s perfect provision for each other.

It’s important to see how God uses your spouse–flaws and all–to work in your life and bring your closer to Him.

China, 2007

10. You will have to forgive. (Maybe over and over and over again.)

You are going to offend each other. You are going to hurt each other–sometimes really, really bad.

Your spouse has the power to hurt you more than anyone else in the world, and after 10 years of marriage, both of us can say we’ve been there.

But we’ve also been on the other side.

We’ve experienced the beauty of forgiveness and have had the opportunity to love like Christ loves, for what a great forgiveness He had to bestow on us to bring us into relationship with Himself!

Forgiveness can be a process; for some things, you might need to forgive over and over again. But it’s worth it.

Bonus: Marriage is really, really, really hard work.

In case you don’t already know this (and if you don’t, then you might not be married yet!), or haven’t been able to tell from the previous list of 10 things we’ve learned in 10 years of marriage, marriage is very hard work. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worth fighting for is.

Marriage has been the most sanctifying tool God has used in our lives.

It would have been very easy to have given up a few years ago (or even now sometimes!), but allowing God to work in our lives through our marriage has been 100 percent worth it.

Marriage Books and Resources We Recommend

Two Becoming One: This is the best marriage study we have ever been through; in fact, we have gone through the material at least three or four times!

Christian Family Life : Will does some volunteer work with this ministry and our good friend directs it. Will went on a marriage-building mission trip to Cuba a few years back with CFL. They are the producers of the Two Becoming Onematerials.

How many years have you been married? What are some lessons you’ve learned during the course of your marriage?

Disclosure: We have included affiliate links in this post. Thank you for supporting our site!

]]>http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/marriage-lessons.html/feed1342 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipeshttp://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/42-healthy-hot-cook-recipes.html
http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/2015/07/42-healthy-hot-cook-recipes.html#commentsTue, 14 Jul 2015 04:01:23 +0000http://thehumbledhomemaker.com/?p=18222Hot summer evenings have a wonderful way of making us slow down, relax…and want nothing whatsoever to do with cooking dinner in a hot kitchen! Picking up take out can be so tempting on these casual summer nights, but that can be hard on the grocery budget and healthy eating. Instead, try these 42 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipes […]

Hot summer evenings have a wonderful way of making us slow down, relax…and want nothing whatsoever to do with cooking dinner in a hot kitchen! Picking up take out can be so tempting on these casual summer nights, but that can be hard on the grocery budget and healthy eating. Instead, try these 42 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipes with tips on how to keep your kitchen cool all summer long.

Check out our 10-day forecast! Instead of our usual low to mid 70s, we’re seeing temperatures of well over 100.

This is the hottest summer I can ever remember here in North Idaho, and as a long time resident of the Northwest I am not used to this!

Here in the land where it’s common for homes not to have air conditioning, we’re totally unprepared for life on the surface of the sun.

42 Healthy Too-Hot-to-Cook Recipes

In preparation for these hot summer days, I compiled this list of healthy recipes to make when it’s just too hot to cook. I hope this little bit of planning with help you and me both stick to our grocery budget and healthy eating goals.

Plus, I’m including some of my favorite tips for keeping your kitchen cool this summer.

Serve it Cold

There are lots of recipes you can serve cold, or even frozen that are packed with healthy ingredients your family will love. Here are a few ideas.

No-Bake Recipe Ideas

Cook in the Morning

For recipes that do require some cooking, try getting it done in the morning, and chill for later. For instance, cook your pasta for pasta salad and put it in the fridge until dinner time.

Cook up a batch of hard boiled eggs to serve with your smoothies and have breakfast for dinner. You could also make enough chicken, pasta, or quinoa for leftovers the day before to use in the recipes below.

Use Your Crock-Pot

I love using Crock-Pot freezer meals to help me serve my family healthy food without necessarily standing in the kitchen cooking each night. Even in summer, you can still use your Crock-Pot. Simply set it up in the morning out in the garage or even on your back patio, so it doesn’t heat up your kitchen.

Use Your Grill

Don’t forget to use everyone’s summer favorite, the grill! It’s the perfect way to serve up simple, healthy meals to your family without heating up the kitchen. You can use any recipe that calls for baking or cooking meat on the stovetop and grill it instead.

Summertime is the perfect time to slow down and enjoy some healthy flavors. The great thing is, it doesn’t have to be a time where we bust our grocery budget or eat unhealthy foods just because it’s too hot to cook. Try out some of these healthy recipe ideas on your meal plan this week!